DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 31st May, 2011

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

____________

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MR SPEAKER

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I have received communication to the effect that in the absence of His Honour, the Vice-President and Learned Minister of Justice who is attending to other national duties, Hon. Dr Kalombo T. Mwansa, MP, Minister of Defence has been appointed as Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Tuesday, 31st May, to Wednesday, 1st June, 2011.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

DELEGATION FROM THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to acquaint the House with the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery, of the following distinguished visitors who are members of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Presidential Affairs from the Parliament of Uganda:

(i) Hon. Steven  Tashobya , Chairperson;

(ii) Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba, Member;

(iii) Hon. Odonga Oto, Member;

(iv) Mr Kasirye Ignatius, Assistant Director; and

(v) Mr Louis Bakyenga, Secretary to the delegation.

We welcome the hon. Visitors and are happy to have them in our midst.

Thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE MEDIA AND VISITORS CENTRE

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform you that the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Media and Visitors Centre at Parliament Buildings took place on Thursday, 14th April, 2011 at 16 30 hours.

It was officiated by Hon. Mutale W. Nalumango, MP, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and His Excellency Abdula’ahat Abdulrixit, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The Media and Visitors Centre will accommodate media personnel as they cover various parliamentary activities. The centre will also provide public information for visitors on Parliament. The construction of the Media and Visitor Centre, which is located just after the Parliament Main Gate, has started and is expected to be completed in six months.

I thank you.
__________

                                                 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I rise to acquaint the House with some ideas of the business it will transact this week. However, before I do that, let me begin by welcoming the hon. Members to this meeting, which is also the last one for the Tenth National Assembly.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: As hon. Members are aware, this meeting is mostly dedicated to the adoption of annual reports from all parliamentary oversight committees.

Sir, I believe that all hon. Members, as was the case in the past, are ready and, indeed, anxious for some hard work in this august House as we continue to aspire to meet the expectations of the people of Zambia.

Let me now turn to the business the House will consider this week. Today, the 31st of May, 2011, as indicated on the Order Paper, the business of the House will comprise questions.

On Wednesday, 1st June, 2011, the Business of the House will commence with questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. After that the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider the report of the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Welfare.

Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 2nd June, 2011, the Business of the House will begin with questions, if there will be any. This should be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then consider motions to adopt the reports of the following committees:

(i) Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender Matters; and

(ii) Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs.

Mr Speaker, on Friday, the 3rd June, 2011, business of the House will commence with His Honour, the Vice-President’s Question Time. It will be followed by questions, if there will be any. The House will then deal with the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. After that, the House will consider the Report of the Committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism. Thereafter, the House will consider any other business that may be outstanding.

Sir, I thank you.
____________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

WASTE DISPOSAL

403. Mr Lubinda (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) how many business firms were contracted by local authorities for waste disposal as of December, 2010 countrywide;

(b) how much waste was collected and disposed of in the same period;

(c) of the total waste at (b), how much accounted for Lusaka City;

(d) how much money was collected from waste disposal business firms for dumping waste at the Chunga Dump Site in Lusaka from January to December, 2010; and

(e) how many households and business houses were registered for the Waste Collection Programme in the following cities:

(i) Kitwe;

(ii) Livingstone;

(iii) Ndola; and

(iv) Lusaka.{mospagebreak}

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Muteteka): In response to the question, Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the august House as follows:

(a)     Lusaka uses a franchise system engaging six franchise contractors and at the  same time working with the community based enterprises in peri-urban areas with a total of eight-one community based enterprises throughout  Lusaka;

(b)     the amount of waste collected may not be known as towns use different modes of waste management;

(c)      as for Lusaka City, 74,503,000 tonnes were disposed of at Chunga Land  Fill. Of the said amount, 53,294 tonnes were transported by the Lusaka City Council while 21,209   were transported by franchise contractors; and

(d)      the amount of money collected was K156,352,094 paid by the franchise contractors and K74,611,801 by waste generators transporting their own waste.

(e)      the number of households and business houses are broken down as follows:

(i)     Lusaka: Residential waste generators, 15,325 households, non residential, 1,564 business houses and institutions;

(ii)    Kitwe: Residential waste generators, 64,693 households, non-residential, 1,500 business houses and institutions;

(iii)    Ndola: Residential waste generators, 48,808 households, non-residential, 1,500 business houses and institutions.

(iv)  Livingstone: there are 8 registered waste generators for households and business institutions.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, given the fact that there is such a little amount of money involved in solid waste management throughout the country, with Lusaka giving an example of K153 million that was used to pay for disposal of waste at the Chunga Dump Site, can I find out from this Government, Sir, why the average of 20 billion Kwacha that is collected as carbon tax on an annual basis is not used to assist councils to clean the cities of garbage?

The Minister of Local and Government Housing (Dr Chituwo): Mr Speaker, what we have shared with the House includes information that was generated from Lusaka City Council (LCC) in which, in fact, the hon. Member is a councillor. If, and as we know, councils are managed through resolutions, if as they budget, they take into account the amount of garbage that has to be collected and these budget estimates are presented to my ministry, I see no reason why the suggestions from there...

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah, ah!

Dr Chituwo: ... cannot be taken into account.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, arising from the answer that the hon. Minister has given, I would like to find out whether the households and business houses were given an option to register or they registered voluntarily. If not, what measures were put in place to ensure that every household and business firm was compelled to register and ensured that its waste was collected?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, the system we are using is a voluntary system, but the households and institutions are encouraged to register because one finds that certain individuals and institutions are able actually to manage the solid waste that is generated.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lumba (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, when answering part (a) of the question, the hon. Minister only talked about Lusaka when the question talks about local authorities in general. Can he give the numbers for the other local authorities.

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, this is the information that we have. We can only give information which has been provided to us.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, currently, the situation obtaining at the Chunga Dump Site is that the place has been surrounded by households. That place gives out toxic smoke. When will the Government consider finding a safer place for a dump site for Lusaka?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, we are very much aware of that situation at Chunga. We are exploring ways and means of finding other sites.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Kakoma (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, despite the scheme that has been put in Lusaka to collect garbage, Lusaka City continues to be a very dirty city with garbage piling up everywhere. May I know what other measures the Government will institute to clean up the City of Lusaka?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, the LCC has ordered front end loaders and tippers. Once these are available, I am sure they will, in fact, assist in the clearing of the garbage in our city.

Mr Speaker, the efforts that are being undertaken by the LCC must be taken in the context of rapid urbanisation and, hence, the issue of garbage generation. However, we believe that with the efforts which we are putting in place, we will be able to as much as possible clean up our city.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Sir, may I find out from the hon. Minister what the Government is doing as a way of discouraging the waste pickers from operating at the dump sites, especially Chunga Dump Site?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, we have a programme of, first of all, “Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy” in which we mount sensitisation programmes with regard to not only the issue of garbage, but general cleanliness and hygiene. Secondly, in these sensitisation programmes, we identified community enterprises that, again, do this work on our behalf because they live in those communities. These enterprises are able to monitor the issues of garbage in the communities they operate from.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister what compensation the people of Katuba are going to be given taking into consideration that the people around the dump site have skin diseases and respiratory problems which are causing them to spend a lot of money on medical bills?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of that epidemic of skin diseases and any other diseases, but, Mr Speaker, to generally answer that question, this very hardworking Government…

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: … has put in place medical health facilities. When things like that occur, our residents are free to go to these health services. Admittedly, prevention is better than cure and this is why we are enforcing the Public Health Act to ensure that people do not build their houses near dump sites. However, if they build near such areas, we have in place health services where they can get help when they contract diseases. The question of compensation does not even arise.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwenya (Nkana): Mr Speaker, I would like to find from the hon. Minister what effort is being made to procure waste collection equipment for the Copperbelt, and more especially for Kitwe where the issue of waste collection is a very big challenge.

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, there is one basic way in which we assist councils with regard to prioritised activities. The first is that when they present their budget estimates, we insist that 40 per cent of that budget must go towards service delivery. Therefore, service delivery must be a priority for each council. If a council indicates in its priorities that it needs vehicles, tippers and front end loaders, for us it would be a welcome proposal. We shall gladly approve its budget, part of which would go towards the purchase of this equipment. So, really the starting point is with our councils.

I thank you, Sir.

POLICE OFFICERS WHO DIED COUNTRYWIDE

404. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many police officers died from 2008 to 2009 countrywide;

(b) which province recorded the highest number of deaths; and

(c) how many officers retired in the same period.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Taima): Mr Speaker, a total of 485 police officers died from 2008 to 2009 countrywide. Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of deaths accounting for 214 from 2008 to 2009. A total number of 202 officers retired from the Zambia Police Service from 2008 to 2009.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: The correct name is Zambia Police Force.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, following the hon. Deputy Minister’s answer regarding the total number of police officers who retired from the Zambia Police Force, could he be kind enough to state how many have been paid their dues.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Lungu): Mr Speaker, the question raised by the hon. Member for Chilubi is in relation to the officers that died between 2008 and 2009 as well as those that retired. We provided answers to both questions and stated that those who retired where 202. However, as for now, I am not particularly sure what the hon. Member exactly wants us to ….

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: It is a new question.

Mr Lungu: You see, I understand that.

Laughter

Mr Lungu: I did not anticipate that new question.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Interruptions

Mr Beene: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Home Affairs the conditions of service currently obtaining in the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding officers who have died, but served less than twenty years and did not get their accumulated benefits. When will the ministry reduce the years for an officer to be eligible for benefits so that the people currently in service can benefit from  such a change in the conditions of service?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, that is an issue that we will look into as and when it becomes necessary.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, 485 deaths in one year is quite a large number. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the major cause of death was and what steps the ministry has put in place to address this sad situation.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, most of the deaths are related to tuberculosis (TB) and human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). That explains the large number of deaths. As to what we are doing, we have an HIV/AIDS policy in place through which we sensitise our officers on the need for them to be careful with how they conduct themselves on a day to day basis. The hon. Members may wish to know that we also encourage them to use condoms when it becomes necessary.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Captain Moono (Chilanga): Mr Speaker, may I find out what the Ministry of Home Affairs is doing to facilitate payment of benefits to widows of police officers who have died because most of them are still occupying police houses at the moment and, thus  causing an accommodation crisis for serving officers.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, we try as much as possible to ensure that funds are made available so that the widows can be paid what is owed to them. We are equally concerned about the plight of the widows. As soon as funds are available, we shall pay the widows who we still owe money. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Milupi (Luena): Mr Speaker, the number of those dead and those that have retired over the period under question totals 687. Since this number is less than the number of officers recruited and trained over the same period, what is the ministry doing to ensure that the number of police officers in our country is maintained at the current levels or even goes up?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, we will continue training officers so that we can continue to beef up the number of police officers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what mechanism exists to ensure that the retirees are paid their benefits in good time.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, there are proper mechanisms which are already in place. Sometimes, the delays are caused by the fact that when payments have to be made, funds are not available, but there is a mechanism in place and we will ensure that these people get paid quickly.

I thank you, Sir.

OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE SERVING FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS

405. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs which police stations in the Northern and Luapula provinces had the officers-in-charge serving at the same station continuously for over seven years as of 28th February, 2011.

Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, there has not been a police station in Northern and Luapula provinces where an officer-in-charge has been serving at the same station continuously for over seven years as of 28th February, 2011.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I do not agree with the statement given by the hon. Minister because…

Mr Speaker: Order! You are debating. Ask your question.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, the Officer-in-Charge in Chilubi has been at the same station for about seven years and four months. Therefore, is the statement given by the hon. Minister a true reflection of what is on the ground?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, sometimes, I wonder why an hon. Member can ask a question when he already knows the answer. Nevertheless, I will give an answer to that question

Laughter

Mr Lungu: Sir, in the light of the information that the hon. Member has given, I will investigate that matter and establish whether what he has said is true or not.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, is there a desirable period in terms of the number of years for which an officer-in-charge serves at one station before he or she is transferred to another station?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, there is no such period. We have a minimum period of three years, but one can serve as long as a station requires him or her to do so. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.{mospagebreak}

CHIBALASHI BRIDGE

406. Mr D. Mwila (Chipili) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) when Chibalashi Bridge along Munganga-Kawambwa Road would be repaired;

(b) what the cost of repairing the said bridge was; and

(c) what had caused the delay in repairing the bridge.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mangani): Mr Speaker, Chibalashi Bridge is planned for rehabilitation this year, 2011 and an amount of K2 billion has been provided for this item in the 2011 Annual Work Plan. The design for the rehabilitation of this structure was concluded and the Road Development Agency (RDA) is preparing a bidding document for the procurement of a contractor. The works are expected to commence in July, 2011.

Sir, the engineer’s estimates for carrying out the rehabilitation works is approximated at K2 billion.

Mr Speaker, Chibalashi Bridge was washed away in January, 2010. However, the repairs could not be done immediately because there were no funds provided for works on the bridge in the 2010 Annual Work Plan.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, when exactly is the Republican President going to commission this project since the hon. Minister has informed this House that the project will commence in July?

Laughter

Mr Mangani: Mr Speaker, upon completion of this bridge, the President will be able to travel there and commission it.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

FARMING MANUALS

  407. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives:

(a) when the ministry last produced and distributed farming manuals to farmers’ training institutions and co-operatives;

(b) what the titles of manuals were; and

(c) when the next issue of the manual would be published and what the price for each copy would be.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Mbewe): Mr Speaker, the ministry last distributed training manuals to farmers’ training institutions and co-operatives in 2010. The titles of the training manuals distributed in 2010 were:

(a) Recipe Book on Zambian Traditional Foods, and

(b) Production Guides on Maize, Beans, Tomatoes, Onions, Rape and Cabbage.

Sir, the next issues of training manuals will be published in 2011. These manuals will be free of charge. The titles of the manuals to be published in 2011 are:

(a) Participatory Extension Approach Monitoring and Evaluation Manual;

(b) Participatory Extension Approach Field Implementation Manual; and

(c) Participatory Extension Approach Training Manual.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, why is it that manuals for farmers which, before the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) came into Government, were readily available at all farmers’ training institutes and colleges are now not available at all, not even at the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives itself? Can the hon. Minister indicate to us when his ministry will make sure that these manuals are readily available for our farmers?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, as I have indicated in my letter…

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, as I have indicated in my answer, the materials which the hon. Member is referring to are absolute. We have, therefore, come up with new materials which we have been distributing to our training institutions. These materials are there. Maybe, the hon. Member did not make an effort to conduct physical checks. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

ZAMBIAN WOMEN ARRESTED FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES

408. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

(a) in which countries Zambian women had been arrested for various offences especially drug trafficking as at 31st December, 2010;

(b) how many were imprisoned outside Zambia for drug trafficking as of 31st December, 2010; and

(c) how many died whilst serving prison sentences for drug trafficking within and outside Zambia.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Professor Phiri): Mr Speaker, the countries in which Zambian women were arrested for various offences, especially drug trafficking as at 31st December, 2010 were China, Ethiopia, India, Hong Kong, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Sir, from January to December, 2010, a total number of ten recorded female Zambians were arrested abroad for various drug trafficking offences. The breakdown is as follows:

 Country  Number of women arrested

Pakistan    6
South Africa    2
Kenya    1
Swaziland   1

Most of these women were arrested for trafficking in cocaine and heroin, except for one, who was arrested for trafficking in ephedrine in Kenya.

Mr Speaker, a total of six Zambian women have died outside Zambia whilst serving prison sentences as up to 31st December, 2010. The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) did not have information to suggest that any suspect died whilst serving a prison sentence within Zambia during the period under review.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out which drug was mostly smuggled into Zambia by our women folk.

Professor Phiri: Mr Speaker, it looks like it is cocaine.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Hon. Government Member: Is it indicated?

Professor Phiri: Yes.

Mrs Sinyangwe (Matero): Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge that behind the trafficking of drugs by these women are big drug barons. Has this Government really bothered to find out who sends these women on these trips where they end up being arrested?

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Pande): Mr Speaker, it is, indeed, correct that most of these women are sent by drug barons. The police have been carrying out investigations. However,as indicated, most of the women are arrested outside Zambia. This is because the transactions are done outside the country. These drugs are not smuggled out of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs if at all they have put in place deliberate measures to establish why our Zambian women have allowed themselves to be used by these drug barons, and in the process dent the image of all the Zambian women.

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, there are various reasons. One of the reasons is lust for wealth. The other could also be that some women are simply naïve.

It is not only our Zambian women who have been arrested for drug trafficking. Apparently, there are many other women from other countries who have been arrested for this offence.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, out of the ten women imprisoned, six lost their lives. This is quite a big number. Were these women hanged or did they die of natural causes?

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, all the six women died of natural causes.

I thank you, Sir.

NATIONAL AIRPORTS CORPORATION LIMITED

409. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Communications and Transport:

(a) what the annual turnover and net profit of the National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) was from 2005 to 2010, year by year;

(b) how many kiosks were operational at the Lusaka International Airport as of 31st December, 2010; and

(c) how much money was  charged as rentals for the kiosks per square metre in 2010

The Minister of Communications and Transport (Professor Lungwangwa): Mr Speaker, the annual turnover and net profit for NACL during the period 2005 to 2010 was as follows:

Year    Gross turnover (K)  Net income (K)
2005    56,414,869,000     4,022,121,000
2006    56,489,853,000   17,001,033,000 
2007    65,515,269,000     3,776,427,000
2008    83,454,941,000   10,168,908,000
2009    88,643,931,000   19,460,949,000
2010                           103,394,881,000                                      962,378,000

Mr Speaker, as of 31st December, 2010, the number of kiosks that were operational at the Lusaka International Airport was thirty-seven. Out of this number twenty-six were for the Concourse Area and these include: Four belonging to banks, ten belonging to the airline and charter operators; three for the car hire companies; five for shops and four for others.

Mr Speaker, the international departure lounge has a total number of eleven kiosks: Seven for duty free and crafts shops and four for lounges.

Finally Sir, the following were the charges per square metre for the various kiosks depending on the type of business:

Kiosks    Charge (K) per square meter

 Airlines     35,000
 Banks    100,000
Airline lounges    35,000
 Others      50,000

The kiosks for duty free shops pay 6 per cent of the turnover.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.   

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the last time that these shops, particularly the duty free shops in the international departure lounge, were advertised, and how the selection of tenants was conducted, giving rise to a situation where only one or two shops are actually operated by Zambians, and the rest by foreigners. 

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, we can give a more detailed response with all the facts that the hon. Member of Parliament requires, if that question, which is new, was to be asked to us.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Sikota, SC. (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, in his answer, the hon. Minister has mentioned that there was a loss of K3.3 billion, in 2007, which year coincides with the period when a certain airline did not pay for departure and landing fees. The amount of these unpaid fees was close to the figure under discussion. Can he confirm to this House that the failure by this airline to pay these charges contributed to the loss for that year?

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, indeed, one of the contributing factors to the profit loss is as a result of the stoppage in operations of an airline from South Africa called Nationwide. This airline stopped flying into Livingstone and it had about thirteen flights per week. Therefore, the loss is attributed to the stoppage of flights by that airline.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, during the period under review, the company made losses. This is a period when one local airline had not been paying passenger departure fees, landing and handling charges to the NACL. Can the hon. Minister confirm whether this contributed to the loss and also whether the amounts owing have been recovered?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I think, the hon. Member of Parliament is referring to the period of 2009 during which the loss of  the NACL was at the level of K19.5 billion. Indeed, this includes the debt which was owed to the NACL by the local airline being referred to. The debt was to the tune of US$2 million, which at the time translated to K10 billion.

As regards that particular debt, I do not have the current status, as at now, but I can inquire with the NACL on how far it has gone in pursuing its recovery.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what measures the Government and NACL have put in place to ensure that the deplorable standards obtaining at the Lusaka International Airport are uplifted.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, we know that the Queen’s language is not our mother tongue.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: However, using strong terms like ‘deplorable state’ in reference to our international airport, I think, is …

Mr Mwiimbu: It is in a deplorable state!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Professor Lungwangwa: … unfair.

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: That is a very strong phrase to use. As leaders of this country, we should not look at our situation so negatively.

Sir, I wish to inform this House that a lot of attention is being given to the Lusaka International Airport by this hardworking Government …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Lubinda: Out-going government!

Professor Lungwangwa: … so as to ensure that the airport is rehabilitated and new infrastructure is put in place. If the hon. Member was following what has been going on in the media, he would have seen that advertisements have been going on since last year to find a contractor who can give the Lusaka International Airport a face lift.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Professor Lungwangwa: This is because the Government is concerned with the need to transform it into an air hub which will compete effectively with other existing hubs in the region. It will facilitate business and development in our country. This process is going on and we are confident that, soon, we should be able to identify a suitable contractor who will put up various facilities at the Lusaka International Airport.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, the performance of the NACL has been fluctuating. What is the direction of this company in terms of making profits?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, from the figures we have given, in terms of the company’s negative flow, the fluctuation is for two years, 2007 and 2009. However, if you look at the general trend, it has a bias towards positive development. This is growth which correlates with the improvements in our economy. When we see the Zambian economy improving, we also notice a positive growth process in the company’s profits as you can see here.

Sir, in 2009, of course, the problem was as a result of the global economic crunch which reduced the number of passengers coming to the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: However, we have seen an upswing of activities from last year. With more airlines coming into the country, more bilateral air services agreements being signed and Zambia becoming more attractive in terms of its location, we are confident of a positive outcome.

Let me take this opportunity to point out that the dual location of this country in the centre of Southern Africa is a big asset to the aviation industry. There are many countries that would like to open flights into Zambia, thereby contributing to the growth of the aviation industry.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: We are confident that NACL will be making a profit as we go along.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister tell this House the name of that airline which is being referred to as ‘a local airline’ or ‘that airline’. Since the name of that airline is not being mentioned, may we know it?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, this is not a secret. The name of the airline is Zambian Airways.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lumba (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, may I find out whether the auditors of the NACL have confirmed that they will write off the debt owed by Zambian Airways, therefore, resulting in the loss of K9 billion?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I have not seen any documentation to that effect.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, I would like the nation to be informed at what legal level the ministry has reached in recovering the K9 billion debt incurred by the former Zambian Airways.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the NACL is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament with a mandate to look into all the various business aspects, including this particular debt, which, of course, the airline owes it.

I thank you, Sir.

PATROL DOGS

410. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs how many patrol dogs the Zambia Police Force had in each of the nine provinces of Zambia.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Taima): Mr Speaker the Zambia Police Force has fourteen police dogs which are all in the Lusaka Province.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister state why there are no police dogs in the rural provinces of this country.

Interruptions

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, the police think that it is not necessary to have police dogs in all the provinces.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Katema (Chingola): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what method the police use in detecting drug traffickers since they do not have sniffing dogs.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, there are many other ways of detecting drugs and the use of dogs is one of them. The other methods remain operational matters which can be told to the hon. Member if he so wishes.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, I would like to learn how effective these fourteen dogs based in Lusaka are.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, they are very effective.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, police dogs play a major role in security matters. May I, therefore, find out from the hon. Minister what deliberate programme has been put in place to increase their number and to ensure their presence in all provincial centres in the country.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, sending police dogs to all provincial centres is something that the police can look into.

I thank you, Sir.

Captain Moono: Mr Speaker, I would like to know the area of specialisation of the dogs which are in Lusaka. What kinds of crime are they specialised in detecting?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, that type of question requires a researched answer. It is difficult for me to give an answer based on guess work.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether we have a special training school designated for the purpose of training dogs.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I do not have an answer to that question, but I will look into it in due course.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that the police dogs, some of which are used for patrols, that most hon. Members are asking about are different from the sniffing dogs that operate under the DEC.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, that is a very important question. I can confirm that what the hon. Member has said is correct.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what criteria were used to have dogs in Lusaka and not on the Copperbelt.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, it was thought that we needed the dogs in Lusaka. However, if the issue is that we need to send some dogs to the Copperbelt, we can look into it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Zulu (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, these dogs eat very good food in Lusaka. Therefore, if these dogs were in Chilubi, I would like to find out where the food to feed them would have come from.

Laughter

Mr Milupi: Mr Speaker, since police dogs are useful as a riot control measure, why has the ministry not seen it fit to increase the number of police dogs and, therefore, be able to transport them to areas where they suspect that riots will take place rather than using live bullets?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, indeed, these dogs are useful during riots, but other than using dogs, we have other mechanisms on how to control riots. Using dogs is just one of the methods.

I thank you, Sir.

REGISTERED VEHICLES{mospagebreak}

411. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Communications and Transport how many motor vehicles had been registered in Zambia from 2009 to 2010.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, in accordance with the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) registered 292,463 vehicles in 2009 and 319,762 vehicles in 2010, broken down as follows:

Type of Vehicle 2009 2010

Light passenger 184,713 204,465

 Heavy passenger     6,207     6,514

 Light load   62,953   66,287

 Heavy load   38,590                         44,496

 Total 292,463 319,762

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, may I know when the registration of motor vehicles shall be decentralised with a view to lessening the congestion in Lusaka and the Copperbelt.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, there is a broad e-governance project which we have implemented. This is a programme which will look into those kinds of activities so that, as a Government, all our operations become more efficient and effective in service to our communities.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Sir, may I find out from the hon. Minister why, of the total number of registered vehicles at the RTSA, some vehicles do not appear in the agency’s computers despite the fact that they are registered.  When people go to pay for road licences, they are unable to do so because their vehicles are not captured on the database.

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, clearly, if you put your vehicle in a backyard, it will not be captured by our database. However, if the vehicle is taken to the RTSA for registration, it will be part of the database and we have a very effective database at the agency.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I want to find out whether the Government anticipated this increase in the number of motor vehicles at an average of 250,000 being registered annually since 2005. If so, why was this not matched with the expansion of the road network, particularly in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, to avoid the serious traffic congestion that people are suffering at the moment?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the number of vehicles on our roads is a very clear indictor of how well the economy is performing.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: When we say the economy is improving, one of the indicators, of course, has to do with the disposal income our people have so that they are able to buy things like motor vehicles.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I was in Kalomo only two weeks ago and saw a lot of canters there. In Dundumwezi, about K72 billion went into the pockets of our small-scale farmers from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and they are now able to buy vehicles.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda interjected.

Professor Lungwangwa: That is why even teachers, for example around Lusaka, have a lot of vehicles parked at the schools. At the University of Zambia (UNZA), a few years ago, there were very few vehicles but, now, it is difficult to find parking space in car parks at the institution.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: This is a general trend in our country and is an indication that the economy is doing well.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

KAGEM MINING LIMITED

412. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a) how much money was invested in the operations of Kagem Mining Limited from January, 2010 to April, 2011 in order to increase production;

(b) how many tonnes of emeralds were expected to be produced by the mine in 2011; and

(c) how much money in the form of taxes the Government was expected to collect from Kagem Mining Limited in 2011.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Nkhata): Mr Speaker, a total of US$35.36 million was invested in the operations of Kagem Mining Limited from January, 2010 to April, 2011 in order to increase production. Of this amount, US$5.59 million was used to purchase mining equipment, a processing plant and the balance of US$29.77 million was invested in mining development activities, including exploration, human resource and skills development. A total of 4.7 tonnes of emeralds are expected to be produced in 2011. The Government is expected to collect a total of US$2.8 million in taxes from Kagem Mining Limited in 2011.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, according to the hon. Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, US$35.3 million has been invested in the operations of Kagem Mining Limited. May I find out from him how much money came from the profits made by the company or was the whole amount just borrowed?

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Mr Speaker, I apologise that we may not have the exact figures in answering that follow-up question. However, I would like to state that Kagem Mining Limited is a profitable company and is able to generate its own resources. At the same time, it has the ability to borrow from financial institutions.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when this Government is going to implement fully the 2008 Mines and Minerals Act which called for sharing of mineral royalties with local authorities. I want to find out from the hon. Minister when the local authorities are going to start benefiting from our mineral resources rather than him just giving us those figures.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I am a little surprised that the hon. Member does not know that even as of now the local authorities do benefit from the mineral royalties that are collected. The mineral royalties that are collected are put together and distributed through the budgetary process.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, granted that the quality of emeralds mined in Zambia is high, may I know when this Government will issue instructions for emeralds to be auctioned locally rather than outside the country.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Chasefu for the follow-up question and, indeed, for his desire to see that emeralds are auctioned locally. What the hon. Member has to realise is that this has to do with the market. The desire of Kagem Mining Limited is to take their products to the market so that they are easily disposed of. However, Kagem Mining Limited is trying to devise ways and means to see that the buyers of their products can come to Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how the quality of stones is determined because we are talking about tonnes of stones that are produced. How do you determine the quality of stones to arrive at the correct figure which Kagem Mining Limited use to arrive at a reasonable tax regime?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, may I, from the outset, state that with gemstones, we talk of the kilogrammes or carats and not tonnes. As regards emeralds, it is very difficult to determine the quality, so we just calculate our figures based upon what is produced.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Before the House moves on to the next Question No. 413, there is a correction to be made to part (a) of the Question. The phrase ‘books of accounts’ should read ‘books of account’. That is the correct English. The same correction goes for Question, No. 419 (c) where it should read books of account.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA (ECZ) BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

413. Mr D. Mwila asked the Vice-President and Minister of Justice:

(a) when the ECZ books of account were last audited;

(b) whether the auditing exercise took place on time; and, if not, why; and

(c) what measures had been put in place to ensure auditing took place at the right time in future.

The Deputy Minister of Justice (Mr Chilembo): Mr Speaker, the ECZ books of account were last audited in April and May, 2009 for the 2008 financial year.

Mr Speaker, the auditing exercise took place on time for the 2008 financial year books of account.

Mr Speaker, the concurrent audit of the 2009 and 2010 books of account is on going having begun in March, 2011. The audit of the 2009 books of account was delayed mainly due to the voter registration preparation commitments that the commission had in 2010 at the time the Auditor-General had planned to conduct the audit. By the time the ECZ members of staff were through with the preliminary activities for the voter registration exercise, the Auditor-General’s staff were committed elsewhere and could not carry out the audit in 2010. Consequently, both the 2009 and 2010 audits are now being conducted simultaneously.

Mr Speaker, the commission has enhanced its accounting tools for recording and capturing transactions as they occur to ensure the timely production of the annual financial reports for the annual audit. The commission has also noted that the Finance Department requires additional staff in view of the increased responsibilities partly arising from the commencement of the continuous voter registration.

The commission will endeavour to ensure that future audits are carried out on schedule as required.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, the financial year 2010/2011 ended on 31st March, 2011. When are the books of account going to be audited since this is a very busy year due to the elections?

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House: (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, from the answer that has been read out, it is very clear that the books of account for 2009/2010 are being audited simultaneously.

Hon. Opposition Members: 2010!

Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, the books for 2010 are being audited and those for 2011 have not been completed since the financial year has just ended. That is the normal procedure.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kakoma: Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House what the highlights of the last audited report on the ECZ where?

Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, since this is a new question, we do not have the answer for it. What is important really is to realise that the ECZ has put in place mechanisms to ensure that books of account are audited in time by increasing the manpower levels and capturing data so that it is recorded for purposes of carrying out audits.

I thank you, Sir.

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FROM 2008 TO 2010

414. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many pedestrians and cyclists died in road traffic accidents from 2003 to 2010; and

(b) of the accidents at (a), how many were caused by the following:-

(i) animals;
(ii) drivers;
(iii) road defects; and 
(iv) bad weather.

Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, the number of pedestrians and cyclists who died in road traffic accidents from 2003 to 2010 is as follows:

Category of Victims   No. of Victims

Pedestrians    1,914  
Cyclists       538  
Total     2,452
  
Mr Speaker, the number of accidents and the cause are as follows:

(i) Animals   –  Nil
(ii) Drivers   –  1,342
(iii) Road Defects  –  Nil
(iv) Bad Weather  –  Nil

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, it is a well-known fact that most of the pedestrians die by way of being knocked down by motorists. That being the case, when does the hon. Minister intend to issue a directive to all local authorities so that they can put up speed humps with a view to lessening the number of accidents?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, actually, we always advise councils to ensure that they put up speed humps to slow down fast moving vehicles. However, it must also be realised that, sometimes, no matter how slow the motorist may be, some pedestrians cross the road because they are in a hurry and it becomes extremely difficult to avoid an accident.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, the roads that were constructed a long time ago had provisions for pedestrians. Of late, all the roads that are being constructed or re-constructed have no provisions for pedestrians. What is the Government doing to ensure that provisions for pedestrians are made when new roads are being constructed so as to reduce on the number of accidents?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, good as that question might be, I think that the best person to answer it question is the hon. Minister of Works and Supply who deals with roads.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I seek clarification on the answer, particularly with regard to drivers causing accidents. What does it mean to say that drivers caused accidents? Could some of these accidents not be attributed to cyclists and not necessarily drivers?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, it cannot be further from the truth that some of the accidents are caused by cyclists and so on and so forth. Therefore, it can be either, Mr Speaker, …

Mr Matongo: Address the Speaker, he is there.

Mr Lungu: … yes, I am addressing the Speaker through whom I am responding to the question which has been asked by the hon. Member. 

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, arising from an answer given in response to one of the previous supplementary question, is it also not true that some of these accidents are caused by defective vehicles which are sometimes driven by drunken people? Also in light of another response which was given by the hon. Minister, I would like to find out what he is doing to impress upon his colleague at the Ministry of Works and Supply to ensure that provisions for pedestrians are included in road works so that cyclists could use them when they are on the road?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, as for the first question, I agree that some of these accidents could be as a result of defective vehicles.

Mr Speaker, regarding the discussions which take place between my ministry and the Ministry of Works and Supply in order to come up with measures to combat the accidents on our roads, my response is that they are part of our in-house arrangements. We always talk about some of the issues which are being raised by the hon. Members. I will be talking to the hon. Minister of the Ministry of Works and Supply regarding the provisions for pedestrians on our roads.

I thank you, Sir.

PEACE-KEEPING MISSIONS

415. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs how many police officers were involved in peace keeping missions outside Zambia from 2005 to 2010, year by year.

Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, our response is as follows:

The total number of officers that were involved in peace-keeping missions outside Zambia from 2005 to 2010, year by year were as follows:

 Year  No. of Officers
2005 99
2006 124
2007 175
2008 185
2009 158
2010 132
Total   873

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, out of the number given by the hon. Deputy Minister, I would like to know the total number of officers who died during the same period.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, we are not aware of any officer dying during the said period.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Beene: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether Zambia is going to consider sending some more police officers in the missions, in the Arab countries, particularly, where there is turmoil.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, should there be any need, the Government will consider doing that.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, I notice that the number of police officers being sent to United Nations (UN) peace-keeping missions outside Zambia increased from 99 to 185 at some point, but in the last two years, the number declined up to 132. Does the Government have any explanation for this decline considering that there are a lot of problems in other countries? Is it that we are not being invited any more?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, when the UN requests this Government to send officers for peace-keeping initiatives, it sometimes states the number of officers that we should send, hence, the reduction in numbers.

I thank you, Sir.

REFUGEES IN ZAMBIA

416. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many refugees were in Zambia as of 28th February, 2011; and

(b) which refugee camps hosted the highest and least number of refugees.

Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, the total number of refugees in Zambia as at 28th February, 2011 was 48,448. Maheba Refugee Camp hosted the highest number of refugees accounting for 17,796, while Mayukwayukwa had the least number of refugees which added up to 9,883.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I would like to know whether there are any refugee camps within the country that have been closed down so far.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, yes, we closed down some refugee camps like Mwange. At the moment, we have the two refugee camps which the hon. Deputy Minister mentioned which are functional. Just for the sake of providing additional information, I want to volunteer some more data that may interest the hon. Member. At Maheba Refugee Camp for example, we have 8,382 Angolans and this is as at 31st March, 2011, 698 refugees from Burundi, 5,172 from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 3,644 from Rwanda, 193 from Somali and 24 from other countries.

At Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp, we have 9,034 Angolans, 118 from Burundi, 134 from the DRC, 858 from Rwanda and many others. Therefore, we are trying our level best in ensuring that they go back to their respective countries.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, considering the fact that some of these refugees and their families have lived in this country for generations, is the ministry considering bringing to this House some legislation which might make it possible for them to become Zambians?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, we are actively looking into such matters. As you might appreciate the fact that due to common culture and so on and so forth, some of the refugees do not stay in refugee camps, they have fused themselves in the villages around the camps.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sikota: Mr Speaker, in view of the UN’s cut off date which is 31st December, this year for the Rwandese Refugees, what measures is the Government putting in place for the orderly and voluntary repatriation of the refugees?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, as a Government we have put in place a number of measures for the repatriation process to succeed.  One of them is that we dialogue with our friends from Rwanda. For example, recently, we had a meeting with our counterparts from Rwanda in order to persuade them to get these people to their country.

I thank you, Sir.   

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, what benefits accrue as a result of Zambia looking after these refugees?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, such initiatives help us to build good relations with our neighboring countries because when they have problems, we provide refuge for their people. In fact, the House may wish to know that we are part of the international community and so we want to make sure that we become as humanitarian as possible. Such efforts are, of course, part of promoting togetherness.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, what criterion is used in determining whether a set of refugees should be kept in a refugee camp or integrated in our mainstream residential areas like Kanyama?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, the Government’s wish is to ensure that these refugees return to their countries of origin. However, as I explained earlier, some of them find themselves in our villages such that it takes us some time to locate them because, as I said, they start speaking the same language and adopt the culture of the people in the area in which they live. The Government’s policy is to encourage them to return to their countries of origin.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Milupi: Mr Speaker, what measures is the Government going to put in place to ensure that refugees do not register as citizens such that they can not be able then to register as voters as is happening right now?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of refugees that register as voters. If the hon. Member is aware of them, I would be happy to receive such information. I hope that he is not amongst those who encourage those people to register as voters. However, let me state that we are not aware of such occurrences.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Msichili (Kabushi): Mr Speaker, most of these firearms in our communities come from the refugee camps. What security measures has the Government put in place to ensure that these firearms do not find their way into our communities?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, the Government ensures that no refugee enters this country with firearms. If the hon. Member has any information to this effect, I will be grateful to have it so that we can manage the situation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwenzi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that two refugee camps have been closed. What is happening to the infrastructure in those two refugee camps?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, one of the camps has been handed over to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development and the other one to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

I thank you, Sir.

KONKOLA COPPER MINES(KCM) EMPLOYEES

417. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a) how many employees KCM had from 2008 to 2010, year by year;

(b) whether there was a reduction in the number of employees and, if so, what the causes for the reduction was; and

(c) how many people were employed by contractors through the labour brokering system in the same period.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Chikwakwa): Mr Speaker, ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Chikwakwa: Madam Speaker, the KCM employment level from 2008 to 2010 is as follows:

Year     Number
2008    11,976
2009    10,202
2010      9,696

There was a reduction in the employee numbers caused by the global economic crisis of 2008. The reduction was progressive through from 2008 to 2009. In addition, the loss of employment was caused by the shut down of the Nkana Smelter and Nampundwe Mine following the opening of a new smelter at Nchanga which does not require powerlite for its operation. When the Nkana Smelter was shut down, not all employees were taken to Nchanga Smelter because it is highly automated.

  Madam Speaker, KCM does not engage in the labour brokering system. However, the number of employees by contractors is as follows:

Year    Number

2008    12,699
2009     8,706
2010   11,081

I thank you, Madam.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Speaker, since the levels of employment in KCM has been going down, which areas does the company intend to open up in terms of production so that the number can go up?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for raising the question and for the concern shown as regards the reduction in numbers of the workers at KCM. Currently, KCM is looking for alternatives so that it can carry out exploration activities. In the near future, we are looking forward to them opening the Nchanga Factory Ore Processing Plant, which will create more jobs for our people. We should also realise that Nchanga Open Pit is at the tail end of its life. Therefore, we cannot expect the same levels of employment at the mine.

I thank you, Madam.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Madam, perhaps, the hon. Minister could confirm that in the numbers he gave, the number of employees in regular employment fell between 2009 and 2010 while that of those employed via contractors increased by about 3,000 between the same two years. In this case, we are getting a shift from formal employment to casual employment. Can he confirm that is what his figures are saying.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam Speaker, probably, the hon. Member is telling us that if he was a contractor to the mines, he would only engage in casual employment. It does not necessarily mean that a contractor only engages people in casual employment. If anything, the conditions on employment in our country are applicable even to contractors.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Madam Speaker, looking at the two companies, Mopani Copper Mine and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), the latter has a high number of expatriate employees. May I know what KCM is doing to reduce the number of expatriate employees as Mopani has done.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam Speaker, what the hon. Member for Kankoyo should appreciate is that whenever there are big projects being undertaken at any operation, there is an increased number of expatriates. This is why there are high levels of expatriates at Konkola Deep Mining Project and, of course, other contraction projects that are being undertaken for processing plants. While at Mopani, in terms of processing plant projects, there is not that much compared to Konkola.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether production has been going up and, if so, why the figure for fixed employees is not increasing. What is the Government doing to ensure that these companies employ people on fixed basis rather than using contractors so that, at least, they benefit more in the long run?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam Speaker, we have to come to terms with the fact that our mining operations will not continue at the same levels as all the resources which we had are being depleted. Furthermore, with what is obtaining in our industry now, we have to realise that not all these employees that are employed by contractors are actually engaged in production. Some, as I have already stated, are only engaged in plant construction and we only have contractors wherever there are serious works. In any case, the hon. Member has to realise that, even in Mufulira where he comes from, all resources are now being depleted. As for KCM, Nchanga was the main producer of copper.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

CHANGE OF CONSTITUENCY NAMES

418. Mr Chisala asked the Vice-President and Minister of Justice how many constituencies had their names changed since 1964, and what the procedure of changing the names was.

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, seventy-seven constituencies have had their names changed since 1964 as per attached schedule which I will lay on the Table. The procedure for changing a constituency name requires the submission from district stakeholders to the delimitation commission stating the preferred name of any newly delimitated or created constituency. The Delimitation Commission submits a report to the Republican President and once Cabinet approves the report, the constituency names are published in the Government Gazette and effected accordingly.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chilembo laid the paper on the Table. .

Mr Chilembo left his microphone on.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Please, switch off your microphone.

Mr Chisala: Madam, may I know the provinces in which these parliamentary constituencies are.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! I think the purpose of laying the entire document on the Table is for you to follow-up. From the original eighty constituencies to what they are now, you will see how they have been changing. The document is on the Table.

Mr Sikota, SC.: Madam Speaker, out of the seventy-seven constituencies that the hon. Minister mentioned, I would like to find out how many are actual change of name and how many are new constituencies which have arisen as a result of delimitation.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I do not know whether the hon. Minister can go back through the document. However, if I heard the explanation, it is very clear that every time there is delimitation, for example, in Mporokoso Constituency, there will be Mporokoso, remaining with the old name, while Kaputa is born. When Mporokoso is further delimitated, Lunte emerges, but Mporokoso still remains. So, it will be very difficult to follow these details when giving answers. I think the document will do justice.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: So, the document is there for all to go through.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES

419. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) why most local authorities that had been audited continued to show financial irregularities, especially as highlighted in the summarised Audited Accounts of Council Reports;

(b) what the major cause of these irregularities was; and

(c) when local authorities would stop paying allowances to the auditors who audited Constituency Development Fund (CDF) books of accounts.

Mr Muteteka: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that, every year, the ministry carries out two main types of audits namely, statutory (compliance) and ex-ordinary or inspection audits in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act, Cap. 281 of the Laws of Zambia. In view of the aforesaid, these audits require that the councils adhere to the provisions of the Local Authorities (Financial) Regulation No. 125 of 1992, the Local Authorities Finance Manual of 2006 and the CDF guidelines of 2006.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to know that there have been tremendous improvements in the overall financial management systems in councils since 2006. It is not correct to state that most local authorities continue to show financial irregularities as the numbers have drastically reduced from the initial sixty-three councils, appearing before the Committee on Local Government and Chiefs Affairs, to about twenty-five in the recent years.

Madam Speaker, the major cause of irregularities has been the lack of qualified accounting personnel in some councils. However, the Government has, since 2008, produced the Audit and Finance Manuals. Consequently, a number of orientation workshops have been conducted in the utilisation of the manuals so as to enhance the capabilities of skills development for accounting cadres. In view of the establishment of the Local Government Service Commission, a number of councils will benefit from the services of qualified staff to manage the accounting and management system.

Madam Speaker, the local authorities do not pay auditors allowances from the CDF monies. The auditors are paid in accordance with the provision of the Local Government Act Cap. 281 of the Laws of Zambia which provides, under section 39, for the approval of Annual Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure Budget for audit expenses to be paid by the councils. Further, the Government has continued to encourage councils to budget adequately on audit expenses as the responsibility to pay for them lies with the individual audit councils. The law provides that councils should pay audit fees in the Government Control Account No. 99, but councils do not remit audit fees to this account due to financial challenges. In this regard, the Government, through ministerial circulars on the preparations of budgets, guides councils to provide for audit expenses from their own revenues as and when auditors are appointed to undertake audit activities in their councils.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, the fact that councils have been facing a number of difficulties in paying the auditors who normally conduct their audits, will the Government still continue to ask the local authorities to pay them or is it going to ensure that this task is taken up by the Central Government?

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, I thought our response was very clear. We mentioned that, each year as councils submit their annual estimates of income and expenditure, there is a provision for paying audit expenses. When these estimates of expenditure are approved, there are sums of money earmarked for audit expenses. This is in the spirit of decentralisation.

Madam Speaker, secondly, we have stated that the councils are unable to pay audit fees because these are very expensive. In the event of councils asking to have them paid on their behalf, the ministry pays centrally and not through individual councils.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, arising from the statement made by the hon. Minister pertaining to the auditing of councils in the country and the efficiency that has arisen and, furthermore, considering that all the expenditures pertaining to the CDF accounts have been done, I would like to find out when the CDF will be released to all the constituencies before the Government is dissolved.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, the CDF will be released as soon as we have all the funding from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central): Madam Speaker, arising from the hon. Minister’s answer that local authorities are not allowed to deduct part of the CDF as payments to auditors, what action does the ministry intend to take against those local authorities found wanting?

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, that is news. I am not quiet sure whether the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika Central is referring to his council. However, if he is, we shall be very happy to receive the information.

Madam, there are ways of going about correcting this situation. The first is for a stakeholder to complain to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing stating the alleged abnormality. It is clear that no payment of audit expenses should come from the CDF because it does not appear in the guidelines. I would imagine that a council would resolve that the money used wrongfully for this purpose is refunded from its general account. There are ways in which this money can be recovered and used for the purpose for which it was intended.

I thank you, Madam.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Hear, hear!

IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION ACT, 2010

420. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs whether the Government had implemented the Immigration and Deportation Act, 2010 and, if not, why.

Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 has not been fully implemented. This is due to the non-availability of new permits. The House may, however, wish to note that the real permits are now being printed in Germany and are expected in the country soon. Once the permits are secured, the Act will be fully implemented.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, that being the case, could the hon. Minister indicate whether the implementation could be done this year before or after the elections.

Mr Lungu: Madam Speaker, our aim is to ensure that we implement this Act as soon as the permits have arrived in the country. Our Challenge is that we do not know how soon the printing company in Germany will finish the exercise. So, the implementation will depend on when the permits will be ready.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, may I know the specific reason these permits should be printed in Germany.

Mr Lungu: Madam Speaker, that is the place where we were able to get a company to print the permits and, at this particular time, we cannot change things.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

SULPHURIC ACID PROMOTION

421. Mr Mukanga asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a) how much sulphuric acid had been produced by the following companies from 2006 to 2010, year by year:

(i) Mopani Copper Mines Plc; and

(ii) Konkola Copper Mines Plc;

(b) how much acid had been used by the Mining Companies above in the same period; and

(c) how much acid had been exported and, to which countries.

Mr Chikwakwa: Madam Speaker, Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines produced the following tonnes of acid from 2006 to 2010:

Name of Co.    Unit  2006        2007          2008         2009         2010 

Mopani        Tonnes 288         114,272         191,430     221,724       210,190
Copper 
Mines 

Konkola  Tonnes 179,818      206,879          215,191    229,805     303,464
Copper 
Mines

Total Tonnes 180,106       321,151           406,621      451,529         513,654

Madam Speaker, the mining companies consumed the following tonnage of acid during the period under review:

Name of Co. Unit  2006        2007         2008          2009         2010 

Mopani Tonnes 39,059    86,134       100,644    60,107          70,821
Copper 
Mines 

Konkola Tonnes 204,398    229,135     234,607    192,953     224,104
Copper 
Mines

Total Tonnes 243,457    315,269     335,251      253,060         294,925

Madam Speaker, the following companies exported the following tonnage of acid during the period under review:

Name of Co. Unit        2006    2007      2008       2009         2010        Country of
                 Export

Mopani         tonnes        0           0           351        33,154      49,325       DR Congo, 
Copper                  Zimbabwe
Mines 

Konkola  tonnes       0             0           0      0             16,880      DR Congo,
Copper                   Malawi
Mines

Total            0             0              351      33,154      66,205

Madam Speaker, I thank.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

The House will pay attention. Let us consult quietly.

The hon. Member for Kantanshi may proceed.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, if the figures that the hon. Minister gave are correct, I would like to find out how Mopani Copper Mines exported more acid than it produced. According to his figures, in 2009, the acid produced was 221,724 tonnes, but the mine exported over three hundred thousand tonnes. I would like to know how they exported more than they produced.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam Speaker, if the hon. Member listened very carefully, we said that the production for Mopani Copper Mines exceeded what it exported. In 2008, Mopani produced 191,430 tonnes, and yet only exported 33,154 tonnes. I, therefore, do not understand the hon. Member’s logic.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Dr Scott: Madam Speaker, the production of sulphuric acid has possible positive and negative effects on the environment. If sulphuric acid is released into the ore body, as it is in Mufulira then, clearly, it has a negative impact, potentially. At the same time, the process of manufacturing consumes sulphur dioxide which is a major pollutant on the Copperbelt. What has been the impact of this increase in production of sulphuric acid on the environment?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam Speaker, while the hon. Member lived in Nkana East at some point, I was in Nkana West with my parents. We can boast, today, that due to the production of sulphuric acid, there has been a reduction in the sulphur dioxide released into the atmosphere. It is the desire of mining companies to reduce this to as much as 70 per cent.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

ZAMBIA POLICE FORCE DISMISSALS

422. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many officers in the Zambia Police Force were dismissed on disciplinary grounds from 2008 to 2010, by gender;

(b) what offences the officers at (a) committed;

(c) which province had the highest number of dismissals;

(d) how many cases were before the High Court of Zambia as of 31st January, 2011; and

(e) how many cases of wrongful dismissal had been decided in favour of police officers as of January, 2009

Mr Taima: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that a total of thirty-three police officers were dismissed from the Zambia Police Force on disciplinary grounds between 2008 and 2010. Out of this number, only one was female.

Madam Speaker, the officers who were dismissed on disciplinary grounds from 2008 to 2010 from the Zambia Police Force committed the following offences:

Offence       Number of Officers

Manslaughter       2
Trafficking in psychotic substances    2
Defilement       2
Corrupt practices      1
Obtaining money by force pretences    1
Murder        1
Disclosure of examinations     2
Aggravated robbery      2
Theft by public servant  13
Failing to secure firearm     1
Committing public nuisance     1
Breaking into a building and committing a felony      1
Absent from duty for six years    1
Theft        2
Impersonation       1

Madam Speaker, the highest number of dismissals was recorded in Lusaka Province which accounted for fourteen dismissals. 

There were five cases involving police officers before the High Court of Zambia as at 31st January, 2011. Finally, as of January, 2009, there has been no case of wrongful dismissal that has been decided in favour of police officers in the Zambia Police Force.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, in the event of appeals to the High Court of Zambia, may I know if there had been any cases of readmission to the Zambia Police Force?

Mr Lungu: Madam Speaker, I am not aware of that particular aspect, but I can try to find out whether there was one.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

ECZ’S EXPENDITURE 

423. Mr Chisala asked the Vice-President and Minister of Justice how much money the ECZ had spent on the following:

(a) attending the 8th Electoral Commissions Forum (ECF) of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Countries General Conference in Lesotho in 2005;

(b) observing the local government elections in Lesotho in the same year as at (a) above; and

(c) observing the General Elections in Tanzania from 14th October to 5th November, 2005.

The Deputy Minister of Justice (Mr Chilembo): Madam Speaker, the ECZ spent a total of US $7,425.32, which is K34, 824,750.80, on airfares and per diem for members and officers who attended the 8th ECF-SADC Annual General Conference in Lesotho in 2005.

Madam, the ECZ spent a total of US $8,941.00, which is K43,453,260.00, on airfares and per diem for officers who were on attachment to the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and also observed the Lesotho Local Government elections in 2005.

The ECZ spent a total of US $7,086.00, which is K25,863,900.00, on airfares and per diem for the members and officers who observed the General Elections in Tanzania in 2005.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, how many observers were sent from Zambia to Tanzania in 2005?

Dr Mwansa: Madam Speaker, in all fairness, we do not have the figure of the number of officers who went there. However, if you look at the amount of money spent, it is a modest amount of K25 million, therefore, the number is not high to raise any concern.

I thank you, Madam.

DELIMITATION OF WARDS AND POLLING STATIONS

424. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Vice-President and Minister of Justice:

(a) how much money had been spent in 2005 on the delimitation of wards and polling stations;

(b) how many parliamentary election results had been petitioned in the High Court between 2001 and 2010; and

(c) whether the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) spent any money on any of the petitions and, if so, on how many petitions and how much was involved.

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, the ECZ spent a total of K1,772,625,888.00 for the delimitation of wards and polling stations in 2005.

Madam, following the 2001 Tripartite Elections, a total of forty-two parliamentary election petitions were filed in the High Court of Zambia. During the 2006 elections, forty parliamentary petitions were filed. An additional election petition was filed following the parliamentary by-election in Lupososhi Constituency in 2006. An election petition was also filed in respect of the Mufumbwe Constituency Parliamentary by-election. Therefore, a total of eighty-four parliamentary petitions were filed in the High Court between 2001 and 2010.

The ECZ spent a total of K810,000,000.00 on the petitions on logistics for witnesses. The amount is made up of K330,000,000 spent in 2001 and K480,000,000 spent in 2006.

The commission did not spend any money on the Mufumbwe petition as it was not a party to the proceedings.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, may I find out how many wards were created countrywide?

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Dr Mwansa: Madam Speaker, I am sorry we do not have the figure. However, if you look at the amount spent on the exercise, which is nearly K2 billion, it clearly shows that this was a nationwide programme which covered all the constituencies in the country. Unfortunately, I do not have the figure.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (HRC)

425. Mr Chisala asked the Vice-President and Minister of Justice:

(a) how many complaints of human rights abuses had been received by the HRC between December, 2009 and December 2010;

(b) how many of the complaints received had been concluded during the same period; and

(c) how much money the HRC spent on touring the Northern Province between 2009 and 2010.

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Section 10 of the Human Rights Commission Act No. 39 of 1996, the Human Rights Commission recorded over 1,233 complaints in the period December, 2009 to December, 2010.

Madam, of this figure, 664 cases were concluded and 569 are still under investigations.

An analysis of the statistics for the period under review shows that employment and labour-related rights were the highest violations that the commission received. This is the same for the year 2009. This was followed by maladministration of justice and children’s rights respectively.

Madam Speaker, the commission spent a total of K38,990,160 to visit detention facilities in Mpika, Kasama, Mporokoso, Mbala, Luwingu, Mungwi, Mpulungu, Nakonde, Chinsali and Isoka districts.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, of the complaints recorded countrywide, may I know the number recorded from Northern Province in particular.

Dr Mwansa: Madam Speaker, the question is very clear, it is about the number of complaints which were received countrywide. If the hon. Member wanted to know how many complaints were received from Northern Province specifically, he could have put that question to us to answer. We do not have that information right now.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

TRAINED ZAMBIANS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

426. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs how many Zambians in the diplomatic service had been trained at the Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (ZIDIS) from inception to date.

Professor Phiri: Madam Speaker, ZIDIS has continued to carry out training programmes in order to build the capacity of Zambia’s career diplomats in their execution of duties both abroad and at the headquarters in a manner that furthers Zambia’s interests.

Madam Speaker, there are one hundred and sixty-two Zambians in the diplomatic service who have been trained by ZIDIS.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, I would like to know if all the diplomats serving the country have undergone the training  at ZIDIS.

Mr Pande: Madam Speaker, not all of the diplomats currently serving the country have passed through ZIDIS because some of them already obtained their training elsewhere. We have a few who did not go through ZIDIS because this institution was established in 1999 and from the time it started operating, the intake was never beyond two digits, implying that we did not have enough manpower to conduct the training. Some of those who were sent had no opportunity to do this training. However, the ministry is currently retraining those all those who did not pass through ZIDIS.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Machungwa: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister in a position to let us know the proportion of those serving without training in relation to those who have been trained at ZIDIS and elsewhere.

Mr Pande:  Madam Speaker, I would roughly say about 70 per cent are trained. We have 335 serving diplomats and 248 of them are trained ones.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

______________

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_____________

The House adjourned at 1719 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 1st June, 2011